In a wild sequence this afternoon, the Las Vegas Raiders secured three defensive starters.
They agreed to terms with linebackers Nakobe Dean of the Philadelphia Eagles and Quay Walker of the Green Bay Packers. They also re-signed pass-rusher Malcolm Koonce. Earlier in the day, they signed Colts’ pass-rusher Kwity Paye and. they also re-signed cornerback Eric Stokes and traded for cornerback Taron Johnson.
Dean and Walker, who were teammates at Georgia, finally give the Raiders some solid veteran linebackers
as they move to a 3-4 defense.
Dean is signing a three-year, $36 million deal with the Raiders. He has started 27 games and is known for being a solid player. Injuries have been a problem dating back to college. He has missed 21 games NFL games due to injury.
Like Dean, Walker has speed, while he has been up-and-down in his career. Walker, who the Packers, drafted in the 2022 with the first-round pick acquired form the Raiders in the Davante Adams trade, has 57 career starts for the Packers, who did not give him a fifth-year option for 2026. He is signing a three-year, $40.5 million contract with Las Vegas.
Koonce is signing a one-year, $11 million deal wit the Raiders for the second straight year. He flashed to end the 2023 season, but missed the entire 2024 season with a torn ACL. He struggled in 2o25 and had just 4.5 sacks.
The Raiders hope Koonce can regain his pre-injury form.
Las Vegas has already committed almost $290 million in contracts as they start their rebuild.
